Arrest made in Wayne Township dog shooting

WAYNE TOWNSHIP, PA – Pine Creek Township police on Thursday arrested a Jersey Shore man and charged him with animal cruelty and related offenses in connection with the shooting of the man’s dog on Jan. 21. James Standridge, 34, has been charged with multiple offenses relative to the incident, initial word of which drew public outrage.. The animal is now on the mend after it was found along a rural road in Wayne Township on Jan. 27.

Pine Creek Township police provided this narrative on the incident:

On 1/31/2023 the Shelter Manager of the Clinton County SPCA contacted the Pine Creek Township Police department in reference to a dog that had been shot in the 1700 block of Pine Mountain Road, Wayne Township. The SPCA manager stated on 1/27/23 they were called by a motorist that was traveling on Pine Mountain Road in the 1700 block when the driver noticed a dog lying under some laurel bushes by the road in the area of a pull off.

Clinton County SPCA workers traveled to this location and located the dog, a brindle-colored female pitbull terrier. SPCA workers stated the dog was injured with visible open wounds and initially thought the dog had been hit by a car. Also located at the location was a pink dog leash tied to a tree close to where the dog was laying. By looking at that area it was apparent the dog had been connected to that leash and eventually got out of it. Also located were three bullet casings.

The SPCA workers transported the dog to RoseBird Veterinary Center in Jersey Shore for treatment. At the Veterinary center the dog was X-rayed and it was determined the dog was not hit by a car but had been shot. The X-ray showed two bullets lodged in the body of the dog. One of the bullets was able to be removed and the other is not able to be removed. The dog suffered a shattered humerus bone and has undergone surgery and continues to be hospitalized.

The Clinton County SPCA posted on their facebook page photos of the dog and a description of what happened. The SPCA put out a request for donations to assist with the vet bills that were adding up and a request for any information about the dog’s owner be sent to the SPCA. Calls started coming in to the SPCA with information on who they believed the dog’s owner was. This information was passed on to the Pine Creek Township Police Department.

Based on the information provided, the Pine Creek Township Police department contacted James Standridge of Jersey Shore to come in for an interview. During this interview James Standridge admitted the dog, named Luna, was his and stated on 1/21/23 he took the dog to that location and tied her to the tree and fired three shots at Luna. Standridge told police he thought the dog was deceased. Standridge, 34, of Jersey Shore has been charged with two counts of Aggravated Cruelty to Animals (Felony 3), one count of Cruelty to Animals (M2) and three counts of Neglect of a Animal (M3). He was arraigned by District Judge Keith Kibler and bail was set at $50,000. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled. The Clinton County SPCA stated that donations to help cover the treatment, care and rehabilitation of the dog can be made on their Facebook page, their website or mailed to: Clinton County SPCA 33 Mill Hill Road Lock Haven

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://clinton.crimewatchpa.com/pinecreekpd/133270/arrests/standridge-james-r-5534a1-aggravated-cruelty-animals-f3-and-5-additional-charges